Mallard
Most Swedish children are familiar with the mallard and have made close encounters with it during trips to parks, lakes and ponds all over the country. The only region in Sweden where it cannot be found is in the north.
Mallards are very social and it is easy to attract a flock of mallards with some bread crumbs; often they will eat straight from the hand. However, most of their diet consist of tender water plants whilst juveniles will often eat insects and crustacean.
The mallard is a medium-sized waterfowl species, approximately 50-65 centimetres long. It is quite easy to tell the male and female mallard apart. The male mallard is unmistakable with a glossy, green head and a white collar. It has grey brown wings, a pale grey belly and a bright yellow bill.
The female mallard has mottled pale brown to dark brown feathers with a slightly darker, orange coloured bill than the male. However, after the breeding period in July-August, the plumage of both male and female mallards look rather similar. Then it is easier to tell them apart by looking at their bills.
